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Monthly Archives: November 2010

This blog is a Kitsap Sun reader blog. The Kitsap Sun neither edits nor previews reader blog posts. Their content is the sole creation and responsibility of the readers who produce them. Reader bloggers are asked to adhere to our reader blog agreement. If you have a concern or would like to start a reader blog of your own, please contact sunnews@kitsapsun.com.

Steve Sarkisian showed yesterday why college football is
different than pro football. In a similar situation, with 4th and 1
for the season, 2 seconds left in the game, and down by 3 points,
the pro coach kicks the tying field goal to go into overtime.
There’s little flexibility with jobs in the NFL. In college, it’s
different. Sark rolled the dice, trusted in his offensive line, QB,
and RB, and won what might turn into a landmark game for the
revitalized Washington Huskies.

The Husky win means next week’s Apple Cup game against WSU means
more than just state prode. It means a chance to go back to a bowl
game for the first time in 8 years. This proud program is starving
for it.

My favorite part of “The Call” was Sarkisian rallying the troops
on the sideline together. Everyone, the offense, the defense, the
special teams, and the last guy on the traveling squad, bought into
and was behind the call an the play. That’s leadership.

This will be a fun week leading up to what could be a tremendous
Apple Cup. Don’t get me wrong; I’d be happy with Washington blowing
the Cougars out early. I just don’t think that’s going to happen. I
see a close game in hostile territory for all the marbles of
post-season. Should be fun.

P.S. How about that Husky defense led by Mason Foster. Nick
Holt’s group has been widely criticized all year. However, when
they have been most need in the past two games, they’ve only
surrendered one touchdown and that was 7 quarters ago! They will
need a similar effort next week.

I’ve been challenged in blogging lately, but that should end
today. I apologize to all my readers for being away, but in the
words of that great philosopher Arnold Schwarzenegger, “I’m
Back!”

The Seahawks still have the inside track for the NFC West. With
all teams losing last week, we just simply advanced a week on the
schedule. The next two weeks are critical for the Hawks. They have
home games against Kansas City and Carolina. I view these as
“must-wins.” If they do, that puts them at 7 wins with division
games against San Francisco (road) and St. Louis (home). A win
against the Rams would put them at 8 wins and essentially give them
the division. The loss against New Orleans didn’t hurt. The next 2
weeks may mean the season.

I have a funny feeling that Jake Locker and the Huskies will
make the Apple Cup meaningful by beating Cal on Saturday. A road
win in the Pac-10 is always tough, but I don’t think the Bears have
shown a whole lot of mental toughness under Jeff Tedford. Take last
year’s game at Husky Stadium. I’m looking for a close game and a
Husky win at 24-21. If they don’t make a bowl game, they can look
back at the Arizona State game at home as the season killer. Let’s
hope that doesn’t happen.

Felix Hernandez unquestionably was the Cy Young winner. I am so
pleased that the baseball writers got past the 13 win total. Had
his mates posted another 13 runs cumulatively, he may have been at
21 wins! Next year will be no different unless we can get some
bats. The hot stove league should be interesting this year.

Keep watching for me on Twitter – @DailyDanSports for daily
updates. I will be tweeting on the football games tomorrow!

Well, at least you can definitely say these aren’t your 2008 and
2009 Seahawks.

A week after being humiliated at home by the New York Giants,
the Hawks traveled to Phoenix and essentially knocked the Cardinals
out of the NFC West race. Matt Hasselbeck threw for 333 yards and
the offense went for over 500. I can’t remember the last time we
saw that type of output on the road. And, I hope you’re sitting
down, the Hawks have 2 road wins and we’re only halfway through the
year!

Arizona is three games behind the Hawks with only seven to play
thanks to to the season sweep by the good guys. Basically, if the
Seahawks win three winnable home games against Kansas City,
Carolina, and St. Louis, the Cardinals would have to go 6-1 to beat
them. They won’t do that with either Derek Anderson or Max Hall.
Game over for them. San Francisco knocked off the Rams in overtime
giving Seattle sole possession of first place, and keeping there
hopes alive. If Seattle can win in SF, they would basically
eliminate the 49’ers.

A few thoughts following the game:

Pete Carroll is a difference maker as a coach. I like Jim Mora,
but there’s no doubt Pete has his stamp on this organization and
it’s a better fit. He almost wills “positiveness” and the results
show through on the field. Even after two lopsided losses back to
back, they were able to come up with an impressive road win when
the Cardinals had to win.

Matt Hasselbeck is the QB. Period. If what we saw last week
from Charlie Whitehurst didn’t show you enough, today’s game did. I
like Charlie and he’s probably going to make a capable back up in
this league. But, he’s not even there yet. If Hasselbeck loses time
due to his wrist injury, we’ve got major problems. I think I’d
prefer to give the ball to J.P. Losman.

The defense is good enough to win the division. They certainly
aren’t dominant, but they are good and consistent. Remember that
they kept us in the Raiders game until late in the 3rd quarter. If
the offense can be even slightly efficient, they can be really
good.

We need to get better at scoring touchdowns. I would prefer to
see a two-back set on the goal line. I think we really miss
fullback Michael Robinson. We need to get a big person (even a
lineman) who can lead block for Marshawn Lynch.

This was a big game for the Hawks. If the goal is to win the NFC
West (which of course it is), then this win makes next week way
less important. Depending on #8’s injury, I would consider starting
another QB (I’m pulling for Losman) on the road against the Saints
and make sure Matt is healthy for back to back home games against
Kansas City and Carolina. If we keep winning at home, I believe
that will win the division.

Hall of Fame broadcaster Dave Niehaus passed away in his home in
Bellevue today after suffering a heart attack. He was 75 years
old.

I remember vividly being glued to my transistor radio on April
6, 1977. Diego Segui threw out the first pitch against the
California Angels and the Mariners eventually lost 7-0. I was
transfixed by the voice of Niehaus. For 33 years I listened to
games, most o them losses, but it didn’t matter because Dave
Niehaus was in a league of his own. I am stunned and sick by his
loss. Prayers are with his family, friends, the whole organization,
and Mariner Nation. The best way I can memorialize him in this blog
is to end with his most famous (and perhaps the most famous
Seattle) call of all time. Game 5 against the hated Yankees on the
American League Championship Series in 1995 (courtesy of ESPN)…

“Right now, the Mariners looking for the tie. They would take a
fly ball, they would love a base hit into the gap and they could
win it with Junior’s speed. The stretch … and the 0-1 pitch on the
way to Edgar Martinez, swung on and LINED DOWN THE LEFT-FIELD LINE
FOR A BASE HIT! HERE COMES JOEY, HERE IS JUNIOR TO THIRD BASE,
THEY’RE GOING TO WAVE HIM IN! THE THROW TO THE PLATE WILL BE …
LATE! THE MARINERS ARE GOING TO PLAY FOR THE AMERICAN LEAGUE
CHAMPIONSHIP! I DON’T BELIEVE IT! IT JUST CONTINUES! MY OH MY!”

So what can we take away from Charlie Whitehurst’s first
professional start against the New York football Giants?

You can’t make a complete judgment after one start. Really.
Whitehurst was up against perhaps the best defense in the NFL and
his O-line was beat up. We need a bigger data range to be
fair.

That being said, he missed way too many easy passes. He’s not a
rookie. He’s played behind Philip Rivers for 5 years. He had to
have taken something away.

He’s got a live arm. The pass to Ben Obamanu was pretty. He
definitely can let it fly. But so could Dan McGwire!

There is no QB controversy . The Seahawks best chance to win is
still with #8. It probably stays that way for 2011, too.

Whitehurst looks like an NFL QB. But, I get the feeling he
looks like a decent lifetime backup. I know I said it’s too early,
but I’d feel more hope if he was 23 years old rather than 28.

I think the Hawks may need to take a hard look in the draft. The
kid from Arkansas, Ryan Mallet is intriguing. Sign Hasselbeck for
next year, pick up a young gun, and keep Whitehurst in for
competition and a backup. Let’s face it, if Charlie Whitehurst was
going to be a legit starting QB in this league, he would be doing
it by now.

I apologize for being so long without posting. Life often gets
in the way of blogging, so I hope to improve.

A belated observation…

Last spring, if you would have told me that the cities of Dallas
and San Francisco would be embroiled in a sports championship
series, I would have bought that. The Dallas Cowboys and San
Francisco 49’ers were both pegged to be contenders for the Super
Bowl, and could likely face each other in an NFC Championship
game.

As it turns out, the San Francisco Giants and the Texas
(Dallas-based) Rangers squared off in the World Series. The
eventual champion Giants weren’t thought to be a playoff team, and
although the Rangers were, they had never been to a World Series
and their pitching was suspect. Turns out the Niners and Pokes were
suspect.

The Giants won their first World Series since transplanting to
the West Coast and the 49’ers are 2-6 after losing their first 5
games. The Rangers made their first World Series in franchise
history and the Cowboys are in shambles with only one win and the
loss of their QB.

Sports is strange. The Huskies and Seahawks lost by a combined
score of 74-3 over the weekend, which was tough here in Seattle. It
still beats being a Cowboys or 49’ers fan, though…